Valve



(No Model.) 2 sheets-Sheet 1.'

E. L. ROWE.

VALVE..

No.`572,.451. Patented Deo. 1, 1896.

(No Medel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. L. ROWE.

VALVE.

No. 572,451. Patented Deo. 1, 1896'.v

iilmwmlllllln UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ELLIS L. ROVE, OE TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE RENSSELAERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,451, dated December1, 1896.

Application filed March 5, 1895. Serial No. 540,610. (No model.)

valves shown in Letters Patent No. 330,322, dated November 10, 1885, andNo. 384,906,

dated June 19, 1888, the improvements in question relating moreespecially to the con.

struction shown in the last-named patent, and

especially applicable to vertically-arranged valves.

In the practical construction and operation of valves for large mainsespecially a great many difficulties have been encountered, among whichare accidental breaking or twisting of the valve-stem by reason oflodgment of obstructions, such as stone or timbers, on the ways orbetween the gates and their seat, so that as the gates descend they meetthe obstruction and are thereby caused to rotate or turn, and as thevalve-stem is not strong enough to stand the lateral pressure withoutbending or breaking the valve is permanently disabled or the gateswedged so tightly that it is impossible to operate them.

Another accident to which vertically-se valves having double gates areliable is the breaking loose or disconnection of one gate from the stemwhile the other remains attached thereto, and while this makes nonoticeable difference in operating the valvestem the broken gateobstructs partially or wholly the water-passage, and there is greatdifficulty in locating the trouble and repairing the damage. Again, itis sometimes nec* essary to remove the stem for repairs, and in theusualconstructions of vertical valves the gates must sta-y closed whilethe stem is removed, as they are suspended on the stem, and there is noother means for holding them open. Another great trouble is theliability of the gates to rust to the casing, because of the corrosiveaction of the water on. the

metals, or` clogging of the guides by deposits the obj ects of thisinvention are, first, to prevent the gates rolling or turning within thevalve-casing, so as to strain the valve-stem laterally and possiblybreak orbend it, which is accomplished by guides attached to theopposite sides of gates; second, to enable the gates to be raised andupheld to permit the removal of the valve-stem without closing thegates; third, to provide the gates withinterlocking devices whereby ifone gate should become detached from the stem it will be suspended onthe other gate, and thus the danger of one gate becoming detached andchoking the valve without being noticeable to the operator is prevented;fourth, and of great importance, are the ways or tracks at the sides ofthe valve-casing, which are made separately from the valve of bronze orother noncorrosive metal and secured in the casing in the novel manneras hereinafter described.

The invention therefore vconsists in the novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter claimed and described in detail, as follows:

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central transversevertical section through the improved water-gate, the valve-stem beingbroken ou t. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same.Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. l. Eig. 4 is anenlarged top View of the valve with the upper part of casing andvalve-stem removed. Fig. 5 is a greatly-enlarged detail transversesection of the gates, casing, tracks, and guides. A

The valvecasing is made of a lower partA, having the waterway andvalve-seats, and the upper part A', there being no particularnovelty inthe shape or fitting of these parts together to form the casing.

At opposite sides IOO ot and within the cas-ing are vertical grooves B,which are dovetailed in horizontal crosssection and widest at the baseof the groove. lVithin these grooves are set vertical tracks or ways C,which project slightly from the grooves and are formed of bronze orother non-corrosive metal. The ways are recessed in their sides, as atc, and after they are accurately seated in the grooves B molten lead orother soft packing-metal is poured in the groove around the ways, asindicated at D, this lead being tamped, so that the ways are securelyfastened in place within the casing, yet without cutting or boring thewalls of the casing or using any nuts or bolts apt to corrode anddifficult to lit in the cramped space within the casing. This method ofsecuring the ways within the casing I consider one of the most valuablefeatures of the invention.

The gates E E are raised and lowered by a rotatable threaded stem F,which passes through a nut G, on which the gates are hun g, so that asthe stem is rotated the gates will be raised or lowered. Then lowered,the gates are spread apart by wedges e. e. These parts are con-structedsubstantially as described in the patents above mentioned or in othersuitable manner.

The stem may be operated in large valves by the gears, as indicated inthe drawings.

The valve-seats are faced with bronze rings a and the gates with bronzerings E to prevent rusting.

On the inner face of one gate are projecting studs E2, which entercorresponding sockets E3 on the inner face of the opposed gate. Saidinterlocking studs and sockets not only prevent one gate rotating inrelation to the other, but in case either gate breaks away from the stemor nut, as sometimes happens, it will be accurately suspended by andmove with the other gate, so the loose gate cannot' close the waterwayuntilboth gates break loose or the accident is discovered.

In the outer face of each gate is a recess 7L, Awhich when the gates areraised to their full extent, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2,

comes opposite bolts H ll, tapped through the en-d walls of part A ol'the casing, and if it is desired to remove the stein these bolts arescrewed in until their ends engage recesses h. Then the stem can beremoved while the gates are secured in raised position and the waterwayremains unobstructed.

On opposite sides of one gate are fastened bronze wings J, (see Figs.and 5,) which have straight bearing edges y' opposite the ways C andfitting closely thereto. These wings are of such length that theyeffectually prevent the gates rotating so as to strain the stem or nut,and if any obstruction gets in the way of the gates and obstructs theirpassage instead ol' rotating they are compelled to move straight ahead,and if the 0bstruction cannot be pushed out of the way the movement ofthe gates will be stopped without their becoming jammed or the stembeing broken, for the stem is strong enough to-stand any verticalpressure thereon, while lateral pressure would bend or break it. Thesewings and ways are not merely for guiding the gates, that is, theirincidental function, buttheir main object in my invention ,is to preventrotation of the gates or lateral stress on the stem, and with thisobject in view they are constructed, proportioned, and arranged in themanner shown and described.

The valves thus constructed are free from liability to annoyingaccidents above enumerated, and by my invention the practical utilityand value of the valves are greatly enhanced.

The by-pass valve shown in Figs. l and 2 is not part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

l. The combination of the valve-casing, the gates therein, the nut onwhich thev gates are hung, and the stem engaging said nut for raisingand lowering the gates, with means for holding the gates in raisedposition when the stem is removed, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the casing, the valvestem for raising and loweringthe gates, and the pair of opposed gates suspended on the stem havingpairs of interlocking lugs and sockets on their opposed faces, with thediametrically opposite guide-wings between the gates, for the purposeand substantially as described. The combination 'of the valve-casing,the valve-stein, and the opposite gates suspended on said stem; havingrecesses in their outer faces; with the bolts tapped through the casingand adapted to engage the recesses in the gates and hold them raised,substantially as described.

4c. In combination with the valve-casing, the ways on opposite sidesthereof, the gates, and the devices for raising and lowering the gates;of the sockets E3 on one gate and the studs E2 on the other whereby thetwo gates are so connected together that one cannot rotate without theother of the non-corrosive diametrieally opposite guide-wings betweenthe gates adapted to prevent rotation of the gates within the casing,and the connections between the guide-wings and the gates, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

5. The combination ol the valvecasing having vertical grooves as B, theways placed in said grooves, and the soft-metal packing securing theways in the grooves, with the valve-stein, the gates hung thereon andthe diametrically opposite guide-wings adapted to engage the ways andprevent rotation of the gates within the casing; the sockets E3 on onegate and the studs E2 on the other whereby the two gates are so con- IOOIIO

nected together that one cannot rotate without the other, allsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a straightway valve, the combination of the two-part casing, thevertical grooves B, on opposite sides thereof the 'Ways in said grooves,the Valve-stem, and its operating devices; with the gates suspended onsaid stem having interlocking lugs and sockets on 1o their opposed facesand the diametrically oppresence of I 5

